Newsletter

Pleas entered in Oconee County home invasion

Two Athens men entered pleas Tuesday for the July home invasion of two alleged drug dealers on Alpine Court in Oconee County.

Mark Anthony Sims, 30, of Sartain Drive, entered a guilty plea to aggravated assault, burglary, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Oconee County Superior Court before Piedmont Circuit Superior Court Judge Robert Adamson.

In the negotiated plea, Sims faces the possibility of up to 10 years in prison when he is later sentenced, Western Circuit Assistant District Attorney Kris Bolden said.

Roderick Tavarus Walter, 22, also of Sartain Drive, entered an Alford plea, meaning “he acknowledges the evidence is strong enough for him being found guilty to being a party to the crime of burglary,” Bolden said.

Walter, who had no previous felony convictions, was sentenced to 12 years on probation.

“The evidence was very different for (Walter) and how much he knew about what the other guy was going to do,” Bolden said. “The evidence would have shown he was a getaway driver.”

Sims entered the house believing there was a large amount of marijuana inside and possibly money, according to Bolden.

“He didn’t steal anything because before he could one of the residents hit him in the head with a baseball bat, so he was there when the police got there,” Bolden said.

During the home invasion, Sims struggled with 27-year-old resident Matthew Moore over Sims’ pistol. Moore’s 30-year-old girlfriend, Sara Barfield, hit Sims with the bat while they fought, according to an Oconee County Sheriff’s report.

Deputies later charged Moore and Barfield after 3 pounds of marijuana and a large sum of money was recovered from the house.